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Used Lathe Checkup List

Susquatch

Susquatch

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Had some free time waiting for my daughter to arrive. This is as good a place and time as any for a Lathe Checkup List

Bring a Dial indicator, a Dial Test Indicator, a magnetic indicator stand, a short piece of stock to test spindle bearing runout, a long test bar to test bed wear with carriage travel, and a nice bright flashlight.

Note that a used bed check does not need to include alignment since that is always done when a lathe is moved anyway. The lack of alignment is not an indication of the condition of a lathe.

Read a manual on that lathe to see how it all works.

Overall Condition
Paint, repaint
How many times
Obviously to sell or pride
Any major damage
Bent handles or parts
Missing Accessories
Tailstock
3 & 4 jaw chucks
Faceplate
Chuck Wrenches
Fixed and Travelling Steady
Drill Chuck
Live and Dead Centers
Lathe Drive Dogs
Tool post and tool holders
Gear set if applicable
Inventory all change gears
How well used is it
Discuss machine history
Does it work at all?
What doesn't work & why
Look around the sellers shop
Get a sense for how seller
treats his other machines.

Bed - Ways
Ways Condition
Especially near headstock
Worn
Gouged
Wipers Intact
Any Way covers? Look under.
Oil pump working if present
Coolant working if present
Lamp Working
Signs of fresh oil
Lots of way oil is good thing
Use Long Test bar to:
Test bed wow w carriage trvl
Examine all longitudinal Screws
Lead Screw
Carriage Rack
Direction bar
Others

TailStock
Quill Condition,
Quill Slop
Backlash
Lock Function
Taper Condition
Lock Condition
Position Lock
Even Engagement under bed
Adjustable?
Over Center Function

Carriage
Half nut condition
Crosslide leadscrew
Crosslide Backlash
Adjustable
Smooth end-to-end
Smooth side-to-side
Condition of gears
Ways Condition
Full Travel available
Lock Working
Auto Feed - both directions
Compound Condition
Compound Travel
Backlash
Slop
Lock Working
Far End beaten by chuck?
Signs of repair
Condition of ways
Tool Post
Damaged
Full tool holder clamping
Consistent tool locking
Anchor cracks/damage
Taper Attachment
Present
Functional
Play/Clamping Quality
Backlash
Ways Condition
Condition of Felt wipers
Wear at ends vs middle

Head/Spindle
Note - no alignment checks
(not checking his install)
Spindle - check taper w DTI
Chuck small piece of stock
Turn short length
Check Runout again w DTI
Push Chuck check w DTI
Turn spindle by hand
Check all gears
Feel Bearings
Check all speeds running
Check feed running
Listen for gear noise
Smooth by hand and in drive
Noises - Esp grinding noise,
Squealing and banging noise
Run up and down rpm range
In all gears and fwrd/rev
Reverse needed for low spd
But also check spindle in rev
Belt noise
Back Gear Noise if equipped
Inspect Belt
Motor Noise & Vibration
Remove covers
Look at belt, pullies, gears
Spindle taper condition
Badly worn or scored?
Oiler cups ok & well used?

Motor
Smooth vibration free
2ph or 3ph
VFD ready
Belts ok
2ph or 3ph motor

Miscellaneous
Missing parts, dials, locks,
handles, levers, tools, etc
Hardcopy of owners manual
Parts catalog
Spare Parts

Things noted while checking need not be show stoppers. But they can affect what you are willing to pay.

Please let me know if I forgot anything. I'll comeback and revise this if I need to.
 
Last edited:
I'm pretty sure that all small lathes sold new today include not just the 3 & 4 jaw chuck, but also a facepalm faceplate. I didn't see that on the list. Perhaps less vital, but if there originally was one there should still be one included.
 
mickeyf said:
I'm pretty sure that all small lathes sold new today include not just the 3 & 4 jaw chuck, but also a facepalm faceplate. I didn't see that on the list. Perhaps less vital, but if there originally was one there should still be one included.
Click to expand...

Yup, you are right. I just forgot about it. I'll edit the list and add it. Thank you!
 
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